Health experts have shared their verdict on why a current Ebola outbreak, declared a public health emergency, was ‘concerning’ after 88 deaths were reported
A new Ebola outbreak has been branded “concerning” by health experts who revealed there are currently “no vaccines or treatments available” for the deadly virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, after more than 80 deaths were reported. The WHO said there were more than 300 suspected cases but added the outbreak did not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency. Despite this, it also warned the outbreak could be “potentially much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported”.
Health experts revealed why this outbreak of Ebola particularly concerning and why it could have a high mortality rate.
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The WHO said a laboratory-confirmed case has also been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital Kinshasa, which is about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the outbreak’s epicentre in the eastern province of Ituri, suggesting a possible wider spread.
Rwanda said it would be tightening screening along it’s border with DR Congo as a “precautionary measure”, despite the WHO advising against the closure of international borders.
Health authorities revealed the current outbreak has been caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus and Dr Anne Cori, Associate Professor in Infectious Disease Modelling at Imperial College London, shared why the was worrying.
The professor said “there are currently no vaccines or treatments available” for this particular virus. Dr Cori said: “There is limited scientific evidence on this Ebola species as there are only two historical outbreaks recorded. These point to a highly lethal disease with an estimated 1 in 3 cases dying.”
The expert added: “The detection of two cases in Uganda reinforces the significance of the event to the region. In this context, the declaration by the WHO of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) will help to mobilise and coordinate the resources necessary to mitigate the epidemic.”
Despite this, Dr Cori added that this strain was not “necessarily a global threat” as “Ebola is not an airborne virus”. The expert said: “It is transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual which requires relatively close contact and makes it harder to spread globally.”
Another expert, Clinical Professor of Infectious Diseases Emma Thompson at the University of Glasgow, revealed three reasons why this outbreak has sparked concern among medical professionals.
Professor Thompson said: “First, reports that initial GeneXpert Ebola testing was negative suggest that the outbreak may have gone undetected for some time, with early diagnostic blind spots delaying recognition. Second, infections in healthcare workers are a serious warning sign in any filovirus outbreak, because they indicate unrecognised transmission in healthcare settings and gaps in infection prevention and control.
“Third, the identification of cases in Kinshasa and Kampala, hundreds of kilometres from Ituri province, shows that the virus has already moved through human mobility networks before full containment was in place.”
Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, this is only the third time the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.
Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, this is only the third time the Bundibugyo virus has been detected. The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounts for all except two of the cases, both of which were reported in Uganda, the WHO said.
